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United States Patent |
5,718,704
|
Medoff
|
February 17, 1998
|
L-shape surgical buttress plate
Abstract
The present invention relates to an implantable buttress plate (1) for
fixation of volar rim fragments (11) at the distal radius (10). The plate
(1) is of L-shape with holes (5) in one or both of the legs of the L. The
holes (5) are designed for receiving fasteners, e.g. bone screws (6). The
plate (1) has a shape adapted to the intended use.
Inventors:
|
Medoff; Robert J. (159 Ku'ukama St., Kailua, HI 96734)
|
Appl. No.:
|
590921 |
Filed:
|
January 24, 1996 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S. Class: |
606/69; 606/70 |
Intern'l Class: |
A61B 017/56 |
Field of Search: |
606/69,70,71
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
4565193 | Jan., 1986 | Streli | 128/92.
|
4651724 | Mar., 1987 | Berentey et al. | 606/69.
|
5586985 | Dec., 1996 | Putnam et al. | 606/69.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
2405062 | May., 1979 | FR.
| |
2405705 | May., 1979 | FR.
| |
2472373 | Jul., 1981 | FR.
| |
1827209 | Jul., 1993 | SU | 609/69.
|
Primary Examiner: Buiz; Michael
Assistant Examiner: Woo; Julian W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Ladas & Parry
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An implantable buttress plate (1) for fixation of a palmar or volar rim
fragment (11) at the distal radius (10), said plate comprising a plate
member of L-shape as viewed from above and wherein said plate member has
two legs (2, 3) only one of which (3) is furnished with at least one hole
(5) for receiving fastening means (6) for securing the plate member, (1)
to a stable bone (10), the other leg (2) being solid without holes, said
other leg extending from said one leg a substantial distance to form said
L-shape of said plate member and serve as a buttressing means for the
palmar or volar rim fragment without attachment thereto by fastening
means.
2. The plate of claim 1, wherein said plate member has a transition region
at which said legs are connected, said transition region comprising an
enlarged area of the plate member (1), as viewed from above, at an outer
part of said transition region (4) of the two legs (2, 3) of the L-shape
member.
3. The plate of claim 2, wherein said outer part of said enlarged area of
said transition region forms a rounded corner for said L-shape plate
member.
4. The plate of claim 1, wherein said one of said legs (2) is bent in a
shape adapted to the form of the styloid of the radius (10).
5. The plate of claim 1, wherein said plate member is flat and insertable
in a single, limited incision along the radial side of the lower forearm.
6. The plate of claim 1, wherein said fastening means are screws (6), pins,
wires, blades, staples, brackets or indirect coaption with another device
securely attached to the stable bone (10).
7. The plate of claim 1, wherein said two legs (2, 3) form an angle
(.varies.) therebetween of from 60.degree. to 115.degree..
8. The plate of claim 7, is from 75.degree. to 100.degree..
9. The plate of claim 1, wherein said one leg is extendable along the
radius and the other leg is extendable transversely at the rim fragment,
said one leg being longer than the other leg.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an implantable buttress plate for fixation
of a palmar or volar rim fragment at the distal radius.
BACKGROUND
Frequently, fractures may involve the volar (palmar) portion of the distal
radius including the volar rim. In some situations, such as Barton's
fracture, this type of fragmentation may be isolated, and contribute to
volar (palmar) instability of the wrist as it displaces into the fracture
site. In other fracture patterns, such as a comminuted Colles' fracture,
volar fragmentation makes open reduction extremely difficult because of
the lack of support of this rim. This may require multiple incisions if
open reduction is attempted in order to reduce the dorsal fragmentation as
well as re-establish a volar buttress for the wrist. This type of
extensive soft tissue dissection, however, may further compromise the soft
tissues.
Typically, the buttress plate use for the above volar fragments is designed
with a "T" type configuration and involves dissection through the midline
along the palmar side of the distal forearm. The buttress plate is
attached to the proximal fragment; distally, the plate pushes against the
rim fragments holding them in position.
The existing "T" buttress plates require a relatively long and extensive
palmar exposure, retraction of the median nerve and radial vessels
producing relatively extensive bleeding. A further problem with this
method is that in the presence of a comminuted Colles' fracture the
surgeon is hesitant to have to make incisions from both the dorsal and the
palmar side.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One objective of the present invention is to provide a device circumventing
the above drawbacks. This will be attained by means of a buttress plate
according to the characterizing part of claim 1.
By using a buttress plate having an "L" type configuration according to the
present invention, it is possible to apply the plate using a radial
incision, which is less traumatic. The incision is smaller than for the
traditional palmar approach.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will be apparent
from the detailed description below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow,
with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. In the
accompanying drawings:
FIG. 1 is a top view of a buttress plate according to the invention;
FIGS. 2 and 3 are end and side views, respectively, of the plate of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 4 and 5 are top and side sectional views, respectively, of the the
plate of previous Figures. applied on the radius; and
FIG. 6 is a top view of a further embodiment of a buttress plate according
to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
One embodiment according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 1-5. Therein, a
buttress plate 1 has a general L-shape in top view. The angle .alpha.
between the two legs 2,3 of the "L" is approx. 90.degree.. One leg 3 of
the plate 1 is furnished with a number of openings 5 for receiving
fastening means 6. At the juncture of transition 4 between the two legs
2,3 of the plate 1 an enlarged area is furnished at the outer part of the
transition 4. In other embodiments not shown there is no enlarged area.
This transition zone 4 is intended for support at the flare of the radial
styloid.
Both of the legs 2,3 correspond to the shape of the bone to which the plate
1 is fixed. The angle .alpha. between the legs 2,3 may vary from
60.degree. to 115.degree. in different embodiments of the invention.
However, an angle .alpha. of approx. 75.degree.-110.degree. is the most
common.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show installation of plate 1 on the radius 10. The L-plate 1
is used in this example as a buttress for a palmar rim fragment 11 at the
distal radius. To place the buttress plate 1 a limited incision is made
along the radial side of the forearm. The base of the plate is slid up
under the palmar soft tissue of the radius 10 to buttress the rim fragment
11.
When the plate 1 is in the desired position it is fixed to the radius 10 by
means of suitable fastening means passing through openings 5 in leg 3 of
the L-plate 1. In the drawings the fastening means are shown as screws 6.
In other embodiments the screws 6 are replaced by pins, wires, blades,
staples, brackets or indirect coaption with another device securely
attached to the stable bone fragment. Furthermore, a person skilled in the
art appreciates that the number of apertures or holes for fixation of the
plate 1 is not critical, as long as a stable fixation is achievable.
The leg 2 of the buttress plate 1 intended to support the palmar rim
fragment 11 is bent in a shape adapted to the form of the styloid of the
radius. Thus, said leg 2 has a curved shape which follows the end of the
radius. The other leg 3 of the buttress plate 1 is contoured for the
radial side of the lower forearm. This allows a limited incision and makes
it much easier for placement of the fastening means.
The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIGS.
1 to 5 except that holes 12 are provided also in the leg 2 of the buttress
plate 1 intended to support the palmar rim fragment 11. This allows the
placement of fastening means, e.g. screws, in the part 2 of the plate 1
abutting the volar or palmar rim of the distal radius.
In further embodiments, pointed projections (not shown) are furnished at
the ends of the plate. These pointed projections aid in purchasing the
fragments that are buttressed, and prevent the fragments from shifting.
The above detailed description has referred to but a limited number of
embodiments of the present invention, but it will be readily perceived by
a person skilled in the art that the present invention encompasses a large
number of embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the
appended claims.
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